An imaging device 11, in which photoelectric conversion is performed by an imaging element 16 for acquiring an image of a subject formed by the photographing lens 12, comprising a light source estimation unit 31 for generating estimated light source information for estimating a light source of the subject, on the basis of an image signal acquired by the imaging device 16; an light source sensor 18 for detecting a spectrum of the light source; a light source sensor information calculation unit 32 for generating a light source sensor information including the spectrum based on the spectrum; a color conversion parameter calculation unit 33 for calculating the color conversion parameters of the image signal based on the estimated light source information and the light source sensor information; and, a color conversion processing unit 34 for performing color conversion of the image signal by using the color conversion parameters. This allows the imaging device to realize precise color reproduction with an improved accuracy.
Legal claims defining the scope of protection, as filed with the USPTO.
1. An imaging device for taking a subject image formed by an imaging lens, wherein the subject image is photo-electrically converted into an image signal by an imaging element, comprising; a light source estimation unit for generating estimated light source information for estimating a light source of the subject, based on the image signal acquired by the imaging element, a light source sensor for detecting spectrum information of an illumination light, a light source sensor information calculation unit for generating light source sensor information including the spectrum information and time information at the detection of the spectrum information, based on the spectrum information, a color conversion parameter calculation unit for calculating a color conversion parameter of the image signal, based on the estimated light source information and the light source sensor information, and, a color conversion processing unit for performing color conversion processing of the image signal by using the color conversion parameter.
2. The imaging device as in claim 1 , wherein the color conversion parameter calculation unit comprising; a light source setting unit for setting light source information of the subject, based on the light source sensor information and the estimated light source information, and, a parameter calculation unit for calculating the color conversion parameter, based on the light source information being set.
3. The imaging device as in claim 1 , wherein the estimated light source information includes brightness, color temperature or spectrum information.
4. The imaging device as in claim 1 , wherein the light source sensor information includes brightness or color temperature information.
5. The imaging device as in claim 2 further comprising; a light source mode setting unit for selecting one light source mode from a plurality of light source modes and setting it as a light source mode, wherein the color conversion parameter calculation unit calculates color conversion parameters according to the light source mode being set.
6. The imaging device as in claim 5 , wherein the color conversion parameter calculation unit further comprises a processing data selection unit for selecting processing data to be used in the setting of the light source information in the light source setting unit, according to the light source mode being set.
7. The imaging device as in claim 1 , wherein the light source sensor is provided replaceable on a body of the imaging device and includes means for transmitting the light source sensor information wirelessly.
Cooperative Patent Classification codes for this invention. Click any code to explore related patents in that topic.
June 3, 2009
April 3, 2012
Browse 5M+ US patents with plain-English claim translations and AI-generated analysis.